Japan: Factbox: Tsinghua-backed 500.com identified by media as involved in Japan casino bribery case

Friday 27th December 2019

China's 500.com Ltd, an online gambling firm, was identified by media as the company accused by Tokyo prosecutors of bribing Japanese lawmakers in the hope of building a casino in Japan.

Prosecutors, who arrested ruling party MP Tsukasa Akimoto on suspicion of taking bribes on Wednesday, have not named the company. NHK and other Japanese news outlets have said three people linked to 500.com have also been arrested as part of the case.

500.com, which is Shenzhen-based, New York-listed and counts Chinese state-backed chipmaker Tsinghua Unigroup as a major shareholder, did not respond to calls and emailed requests for comment.